24 culturecheesemag.com B E S T C H E E S E S 202 2
OAK BLUE
Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
Fish Creek, Australia
Master cheesemaker Barry Charlton crafts a
number of blue cheeses at his down-under
creamery. His large-format Oak Blue, named
for the massive trees around Mossvale Park
near the creamery entrance, earned him two
WCA trophies and an ICDA Gold medal.
Modeled after Italian Gorgonzola, the
vegetarian-rennet wheels are aged three months
and rippled through with extensive veining.
ÉPOISSES BERTHAUT
Savencia Fromage & Dairy
Fromagerie Berthaut
Époisses, France
Robert and Simone Berthaut brought
Époisses back from the brink of near-
extinction in 1975, so it's only fitting that
their take on this classic French washed
rind won WCA Super Gold. They make
Napoleon's favorite cheese with milk
from 30 Côte d'Or farmers who raise
Brune, Simmental, and Montbéliarde
cows, and wash their wheels in Marc
de Bourgogne brandy to achieve the
instantly recognizable wrinkled salmon
rind and equally unmistakable aroma.
BLUE SHROPSHIRE
Long Clawson Dairy
Long Clawson, UK
A deep pumpkin orange is shot through
with electric blue in this ICDA champion
cheese from farming cooperative Long
Clawson, founded in 1911. Combining
the best of both cheddar and blue
cheeses, we can't think of anything better
to have alongside a beer and the game.
Photos:
Oak
Blue
by
Apple
and
Tree
Photography